Brian960

There's always the health insurance companies.

Jen, There's a lot of ways to be a nurse besides being a hospital staff nurse. Bedside nursing tends to have higher salaries but it's not the only game in town. Very few professions can give you the satisfaction that comes from helping others in their time of need. It is a noble career, always at the top of the 'most trusted professions' list.

A good way to avoid burnout is being able to compartmentalize. If it's done well it may not be distinguishable from indifference. Sounds like you don't have a problem there.

Your employer has a staffing shortage and it might seem like the place will implode if you leave, but it won't. There are other options for your employer, such as hiring an experienced contract nurse as a temporary fix. I hope you find something you truly enjoy. Everybody deserves to be happy.

Losing health insurance just when you need it most. ?

Bedside nursing is kind of like the NFL---at any time you're only one play away from being sidelined. There are however, specialties where you can work well past retirement age. Psych Nursing comes to mind.

The solution to the impending nursing shortage is really a no-brainer. All they have to do is hire more CNA's and Nurse Techs to take the physical demands off the RN's. That's it! You don't need 4-years of nursing school to do most of what nurses dislike about their jobs. The Admins just don't get it because most of them have never been in the trenches. If it's your loved one in the ICU naturally you want someone with lot's of expertise on board. It's a shame to keep losing the most experienced people when all they need is a break from the heavy lifting and drudge work. I'm 62 and retiring in a few months. . . can't wait.

The connotation of the term "nurse" is inherently feminine. Haven't heard it in a while, but being called a 'Male Nurse' is a bit annoying—for all the reasons previously mentioned. My favorite title is simply "RN."

Shouldn't you guys be on the campaign trail?

When surgeons have to go under the knife.

The time-out before surgery seemed like it would never end.

If you're fatigued and trying to cram for a test you may not have good recall of the material. You're better off getting some quality Z's beforehand. A well rested brain works better.

Listen to the patient.

"Don't worry Mr. Jones, we take our Operating Theater very seriously."

Well said. That's why you're Nurse Beth, and I'm not.

I would recommend insurance for the new grad, but after a few years, not so much. The reason they can offer a policy for as little as $100/year is that there's only a very slim chance of ever using it.

Our image has gotten a lot better over the years. When I first started I heard the term "Male Nurse" applied a lot, which I personally regard as demeaning. You wouldn't say Female Truck Driver or any other job title for that matter. The word Nurse has an implicit as well as inherent femininity to it. It goes back to the act of nursing (think "wet nurse"). When someone asks me what I do I tell them I'm an RN. It just sounds better to me. If they're not familiar with the term RN that's their problem, but until someone comes up with a more gender neutral job title we're stuck with Nurse. When it comes to gay nurses I'd say they are in proportion to the general population. One time a neighbor was teasing me about being a nurse and I turned it around quickly by saying in a serious tone, "Are you hitting on me?" Being a male in nursing sometimes requires an extra measure of self-confidence in one's sexual identity, similar to when a straight man wears an earring/s. I wonder how many men don't consider nursing as a career simply because of the gender stereotype. Nursing requires strength in many forms, take comfort in the fact that many guys couldn't even pass nursing school.

Amen to that. Keep it secular.